The Delta E-4 Coupe, like all preproduction prototypes, still needs work. But the cars are nippy, handle well and have a striking design, with butterfly doors that swing up and open. The prototypes, fitted with a smaller battery than the 48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack planned for the fastest version, are not yet capable of delivering what Delta expects to be 0-60mph in under 5 seconds and a range of 200 miles on a single charge. Nevertheless, the car does have four seats, can be fully recharged in eight hours from a conventional 13 amp mains socket and would meet European crashworthiness tests.
The prototypes use powerful direct-drive electric motors developed by Oxford YASA Motors, another Motorsport Valley firm. At present two electric motors are used, one powering each of the rear wheels. But motors could be fitted to the front wheels as well to provide four-wheel drive.
The monocoque is built using tough but light composite technology. Some parts are built using carbon fibre, other bits from glass fibre. As such, the monocoque weighs only about one-third of what it would if built from steel. The composite materials can also be used in a factory-type production process, says Mr Dowson. Indeed a number of carmakers are looking at ways to mass-produce cars built from composites, including BMW, which is developing a range of urban electric vehicles. Because manufacturing with composites does not require huge investment in massive presses to stamp out parts in metal, BMW is also looking at the possibility of satellite production, so that body parts can be built economically in more than one location. Unlike Delta, though, BMW has yet to show off working prototypes.
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2016-02-26
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